Queens print edition (PDF) - Caribbean Life

Aug. 24-30, 2012 • Caribbean Life • Queens/Bronx/Manhattan/Westchester • Page 4Linden crisis deal signed:Residents remain mobilizedContinued from coveradministrators and residents trust governmentvery little when it comes tokeeping promises and implementingagreements telling Hinds and anyonewho would listen that residents “remainmobilized” for any such breach, callingthe post-agreement period as “a criticalphase” in the struggle by Lindeners.Linden is 65 miles southwest of Georgetown,the capital.“We trust this regime to implementthe agreement because the people willsee to it. The people of Linden/ RegionTen will hold this regime, the nationalleaders and the national assemblyaccountable for its delivery,” he said,noting that citizens remain concerned”about the PPP’s infamous track recordon implementing agreements. Thisagreement is a small step in our fightfor equal rights and justice and ofwhich the cornerstone of our strugglesis premised,” he said.The protests, the lock down ofthe town and closure of the interiorjungle roads, had put severe pressureon the economy as most of the localand foreign-owned gold and diamondmines, as well as timber concessionswere starved of food and fuel as supplyGuyanese Prime Minister SamuelHinds.(AP Photo/Ken Moore)trucks were stranded on both sides ofthe Demerara River bridge as hundredsof residents had camped out on it,demanding answers to the shooting.A commission of inquiry is to beginits work likely next month. The teamwill include three Caribbean jurists,retired Jamaican Chief Justice LeslieWolfe, former Jamaican national security,attorney general and attorney K.D. Knight and Trinidadian law professorDana Seetahal.Caribs urged to avoid deportationContinued from coverobtain employment authorizationand deferred action – whichprovides relief from removal orremoval proceedings.“I encourage anyone who isDREAM Act eligible to apply forthis program that will give somany young people an opportunityto participate in our civilsociety,” said Clarke, the daughterof Jamaican immigrants,who represents the 11th CongressionalDistrict in Brooklyn.“I hope employment authorizationwill be one of the manyother benefits that will begranted across the nation” sheadded.Clarke warned individualswho intend to apply for deferredaction to be “wary of scamsand lawyers who may chargeexorbitant fees to provide legalassistance.”On Sept. 7, Clarke said shewill host an appointment-onlylegal clinic in conjunctionwith the New York ImmigrationCoalition and several othernonprofit organizations.“It is critical that we getinformation out to our immigrantcommunities so that peoplewill know who is eligible fordeferred action and so that theycan avoid being scammed,”said New York State AssemblySpeaker Sheldon Silver.Silver said State grants willsupport clinics, workshops andlegal services across the state,where an estimated 80,000immigrants between the agesof 15 and 30 could currentlybenefit.The Assembly Speaker disclosedthat the grants also wentto Legal Services NYC and to anew state task force run by theNew York Immigration Coalitionand the New York StateImmigrant Action Fund.Officials at the U.S. Citizenshipand Immigration Services,the federal agency in chargeof the initiative, said eligibleyoung illegal immigrants canobtain valid Social Securitynumbers, and apply for driver’slicenses, professional certificatesand financial aid forcollege.The Washington-basedMigration Institute, a nonpartisanresearch group, said about1.2 million immigrants are eligibleto apply now for the program.It said another 500,000 childrenwill be able to apply whenthey reach the minimum eligibilityage of 15 in comingyears.U.S. officials said to be eligiblefor the reprieve, illegalimmigrants must have been inthe country and under age 31on Jun. 15.They must also have cometo the U.S. before they were 16years of age and have resided inthe country continuously for atleast five years.In addition, officials said theillegal immigrants must be inschool, or have graduated fromhigh school or honorably dischargedfrom the U.S. ArmedForces.Officials said immigrantsconvicted of a felony, a seriousmisdemeanor (including a sexualabuse or drug violation), orthree less serious misdemeanorswill be rejected.Anyone deemed to pose athreat to U.S. national securitywill also not be granted thereprieve, they said.Officials said immigrantswill not be allowed to appeal iftheir application is rejected, butthey may re-apply and pay theUS$465 fee again.$99 MOVE IN SPECIALBrand New Studios 1, 2 & 3 Bdrms, Furnished & Unfurnished, Short and Long Term LeasesQUEENS: 718-943-1150 or 718-291-3331 NASSAU: 516-292-6071Some with Free Gas, Gym, LaundromatBrand New Kitchens and Bathrooms24 Hr. 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